With the end it sight, it is useful to reflect on areas of your teaching that we can address in class. Classroom management seems to be an issue that many of you are concerned about. Classroom management is also a big topic. List two to three management challenges you are are trying to improve at this time. Briefly describe some of the techniques that you have already tried. Describe what a class period will look like when these problems are "solved."
Some classroom challenges that I have had in my experience so far is getting students to remain seated throughout an entire 90 minute class period. I have students that literally cannot stay seated for that long and need to stand up, walk around, or do something kinetically. Some techniques that I have used to combat this are having activities where the students have to get up and physically do something, whether it be to act something out, or do stations around the room. Another thing I do to combat this issue is to let the students "get up and stretch." I find this gives them 2-5 minutes to stretch their legs, do what they need to do (go to the bathroom or get a drink) without disrupting class time.
Another classroom management challenge I had at the beginning of the year and have improved upon, is the closing of my class. At the end of the period, students tend to want to get up, pack up early, stand by the door, etc. To combat this issue I have made clear to the students my expectations of them: to remain seated with your material out and working until the bell rings. The students now understand, by making my expectations clear to them, that I dismiss them, not the bell, and that they are to remain seated until I dismiss them. I think that it is important to make your rules and expectations clear to students, so they know how to act. Also to combat this issue, I make sure I have enough activities planned, usually I overplan, to fill the entire 90 minute class period. This keeps the students engaged the entire time. The homework is always written on the board at the beginning of class, so if they have time remaining, the students can always start their homework.
After these classroom management issues are solved, my classroom and lesson plans will run more smoothly. More work will get accomplished and more learning will take place. This is the very reason why classroom management is so important.
Some classroom challenges that I have had in my experience so far is getting students to remain seated throughout an entire 90 minute class period. I have students that literally cannot stay seated for that long and need to stand up, walk around, or do something kinetically. Some techniques that I have used to combat this are having activities where the students have to get up and physically do something, whether it be to act something out, or do stations around the room. Another thing I do to combat this issue is to let the students "get up and stretch." I find this gives them 2-5 minutes to stretch their legs, do what they need to do (go to the bathroom or get a drink) without disrupting class time.
Another classroom management challenge I had at the beginning of the year and have improved upon, is the closing of my class. At the end of the period, students tend to want to get up, pack up early, stand by the door, etc. To combat this issue I have made clear to the students my expectations of them: to remain seated with your material out and working until the bell rings. The students now understand, by making my expectations clear to them, that I dismiss them, not the bell, and that they are to remain seated until I dismiss them. I think that it is important to make your rules and expectations clear to students, so they know how to act. Also to combat this issue, I make sure I have enough activities planned, usually I overplan, to fill the entire 90 minute class period. This keeps the students engaged the entire time. The homework is always written on the board at the beginning of class, so if they have time remaining, the students can always start their homework.
After these classroom management issues are solved, my classroom and lesson plans will run more smoothly. More work will get accomplished and more learning will take place. This is the very reason why classroom management is so important.